How do you ride?
#276
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Most of the injuries caused to bike riders occur at junctions. However, speed can be the main factor which doesn’t let a rider to be defensive with the junctions properly. A rider should be extra careful when heading towards a junction.
#277
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I live in NOLA and we have what I would call a pretty nice bike infrastructure. Lots of bike lanes, some dedicated paths through town, and two parks on either side of town that are bike friendly. Along with this there are also some of the worst roads in America if you decide to go off the beaten path. Potholes/sinkholes that will swallow your front wheel at the worst and an extremely bumpy unpleasant road that will rattle you to the bone at best. Much of these are residential "back roads" though so you won't be on them for long. Just if your going to someone's house or making a cut through to the next big road. I ride purely for pleasure when it's easier than taking a car, when Mardi Gras or jazz fest is going on for example. Or if we get a group that agrees on taking bikes out for the night to go bar hopping. It's pretty easy to get across town in 15-20 min with a small group at a leisurely pace. I ride road bikes, last bike was a Dawes single speed that was stollen this past Mardi Gras and I recently picked up a Peugeot PSV 14 speed from a friend that I have fallen in love with.
#279
Cycleway town
I commute to work, i do the shopping, i take the kid to school on the back, i ride for fun, i ride whenever i go out.
I have various bikes, but unless the kid is on her own bike, i almost always use the e-bike.
I do not ever ride on the roads, but for the smallest residential streets occasionally - we have a separate system here for pedestrians and cyclists to share.
I practically live on my bikes, so they have comfortable upright riding positions.
I have various bikes, but unless the kid is on her own bike, i almost always use the e-bike.
I do not ever ride on the roads, but for the smallest residential streets occasionally - we have a separate system here for pedestrians and cyclists to share.
I practically live on my bikes, so they have comfortable upright riding positions.
#281
Senior Member
My commute to and from the work is ~10km through the city, and there is very little bike infrastructure to speak of. It is not illegal to ride on sidewalks here, although it is not encouraged (the traffic rules state that one can ride on the sidewalk only if riding on the carriageway is too dangerous or impossible due to heavy traffic/jams/weather conditions etc., but there is no stated criteria applying to these, so many, if not most cyclists choose to ride on the sidewalk at all times).
I ride generally on the carriageway, mostly because it's faster and there are less obstacles on the road, but also because I rarely find the traffic conditions to be so troublesome as to avoid it. The roads I take vary from smooth to pothole-ridden to cobblestone. My tempo seems to be above average - I usually pass far more riders than they pass me.
Apart from that, I do some recreational/fitness riding, not shying away from gravel roads or forest trails - turns out my hybrid bike copes with those just as easy as my old MTB did. Just came back from such an after-work 60km ride a couple hours ago.
I ride generally on the carriageway, mostly because it's faster and there are less obstacles on the road, but also because I rarely find the traffic conditions to be so troublesome as to avoid it. The roads I take vary from smooth to pothole-ridden to cobblestone. My tempo seems to be above average - I usually pass far more riders than they pass me.
Apart from that, I do some recreational/fitness riding, not shying away from gravel roads or forest trails - turns out my hybrid bike copes with those just as easy as my old MTB did. Just came back from such an after-work 60km ride a couple hours ago.
#283
Senior Member
I stay away from congested areas. Lately local group rides have had more drama/mishaps with each other on rides than my wife and I are comfortable with. So we have pretty much stopped the group ride thing.
So I ride early mornings after everyone has gone to work and we have a beautiful large sports park to ride in where I don’t have cage aka car concerns. It works for me. My wife is finishing up a long career and will soon retire.
So I ride early mornings after everyone has gone to work and we have a beautiful large sports park to ride in where I don’t have cage aka car concerns. It works for me. My wife is finishing up a long career and will soon retire.
Last edited by Patriot1; 06-06-18 at 03:12 PM.
#285
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I'm in Santa Barbara where they are plenty of designated bike lanes and paths.
The problem with the paths is that people use them to walk, with kids and dogs, skateboard, rollerblade and run.
What should be the safest place to ride is often not due to these "obstacles" in the way.
The problem with the paths is that people use them to walk, with kids and dogs, skateboard, rollerblade and run.
What should be the safest place to ride is often not due to these "obstacles" in the way.
#288
Junior Member
I live in central Florida and am a new rider. Streets around here feel like a death trap to me. I'd love to work up to commuting to work (~10 miles each way) but so far it's just riding around the neighborhood and on paved trails. So far so good!
#289
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I am pretty sure I posted here ages ago, but I am going to update since my circumstances have changed a bit.
I live in a mid-sized city in a big metro area (Oakland, CA). These days I work in Berkeley, a city that used to be a leader in bike infrastructure, but is resting on its laurels.
Oakland on the other hand, has really been thinking big about its bike infrastructure, and has launched a new plan focused on underserved communities. Over the past couple of years, infrastructure is getting better and better. Today I took a spin in the mini two way cycle track around the lake. It was quite nice, though a few sections were really confusing. It ends quite abruptly and it isn't obvious where to go to continue around the lake. I startled a cyclist when I slowed to figure out what was happening and crossed the lane. There was plenty of room, but the cyclist I crossed in front of was a little scared.
I am about to start commuting to work, now that my new bike arrived. But I am uncertain of the right way to get home. The traffic is terrible in the evening, and the routes with striped bike lanes all have either conflict points or lead to the shortcut to the freeway onramp. As things are congested, I really notice drivers are inattentive and in a rush. All of the logical routes home are along surface streets or alternate routes to the freeway. The three main thoroughfares all have similar issues. There is a trail that can be used for part of it, but where the trail ends is where the conflicts and congestion start. This is the part that worries me the most about my route. As I get to the last 1.5 miles or so home, it isn't too congested. My commute is just under 5 miles.
Still finding my way with this new pattern and commute.
Otherwise, I pedal to errands and outings - as long as the hill isn't too steep or I don't have to carry beyond my bike's capacity. I aspire to longer, casual rides. So I am going to keep increasing the distance till I hit my goals. This year has been rough for me from an exercise perspective. I have been dealing with a myriad of annoying issues from knee pain (from hyper extending and twisting my knee) and the latest is plantar fasciitis.
I live in a mid-sized city in a big metro area (Oakland, CA). These days I work in Berkeley, a city that used to be a leader in bike infrastructure, but is resting on its laurels.
Oakland on the other hand, has really been thinking big about its bike infrastructure, and has launched a new plan focused on underserved communities. Over the past couple of years, infrastructure is getting better and better. Today I took a spin in the mini two way cycle track around the lake. It was quite nice, though a few sections were really confusing. It ends quite abruptly and it isn't obvious where to go to continue around the lake. I startled a cyclist when I slowed to figure out what was happening and crossed the lane. There was plenty of room, but the cyclist I crossed in front of was a little scared.
I am about to start commuting to work, now that my new bike arrived. But I am uncertain of the right way to get home. The traffic is terrible in the evening, and the routes with striped bike lanes all have either conflict points or lead to the shortcut to the freeway onramp. As things are congested, I really notice drivers are inattentive and in a rush. All of the logical routes home are along surface streets or alternate routes to the freeway. The three main thoroughfares all have similar issues. There is a trail that can be used for part of it, but where the trail ends is where the conflicts and congestion start. This is the part that worries me the most about my route. As I get to the last 1.5 miles or so home, it isn't too congested. My commute is just under 5 miles.
Still finding my way with this new pattern and commute.
Otherwise, I pedal to errands and outings - as long as the hill isn't too steep or I don't have to carry beyond my bike's capacity. I aspire to longer, casual rides. So I am going to keep increasing the distance till I hit my goals. This year has been rough for me from an exercise perspective. I have been dealing with a myriad of annoying issues from knee pain (from hyper extending and twisting my knee) and the latest is plantar fasciitis.
Last edited by jade408; 07-21-19 at 10:21 PM.
#291
Junior Member
I'm 62 and ride casually with a comfort bike mostly to the grocery store which is two miles from the house.
I use a rear view mirror, as well as a blinking tail light. I feel safer being able to see cars coming up on me and how close they are. The tail light alerts those drivers that are incapacitated either with cell phones, or just not paying attention.
I try and always use hand signals when turning, but don't really know how to safely turn left on a busy road so I have been just coming to a stop on the side and waiting for all the cars to clear before making my turn.
We don't have bike lanes in my town, and have narrow roads. The main road has white lines on the shoulder, so I kinda ride the line, can't really ride inside the line because of all the debris.
Things have really changed since I was a kid, back then, the norm was motorists would always try and go way around pedestrians or bicycles, not anymore.
I use a rear view mirror, as well as a blinking tail light. I feel safer being able to see cars coming up on me and how close they are. The tail light alerts those drivers that are incapacitated either with cell phones, or just not paying attention.
I try and always use hand signals when turning, but don't really know how to safely turn left on a busy road so I have been just coming to a stop on the side and waiting for all the cars to clear before making my turn.
We don't have bike lanes in my town, and have narrow roads. The main road has white lines on the shoulder, so I kinda ride the line, can't really ride inside the line because of all the debris.
Things have really changed since I was a kid, back then, the norm was motorists would always try and go way around pedestrians or bicycles, not anymore.
Last edited by Celticgirl; 08-12-19 at 08:12 PM.
#292
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Where I live: Suburbia, east of Phoenix. I have a MUP that runs right near my home, and all the major arterials near me have decent bike lanes.
Where I work: Neighboring Phoenix suburb/college town, about 10 miles away. The MUP goes straight there, as do the arterials. I switch off taking the MUP and the 40-ish MPH arterials.
How I ride: 95% commuting, although I try to leave early and take the "scenic route" by extending my commute when I can. Occasional recreational rides on vacation or on weekends, and rides with the kids when I can squeeze it in. I commute every day, and do as many single-purpose, single-occupant errand trips as I can on a bike as well.
Where I work: Neighboring Phoenix suburb/college town, about 10 miles away. The MUP goes straight there, as do the arterials. I switch off taking the MUP and the 40-ish MPH arterials.
How I ride: 95% commuting, although I try to leave early and take the "scenic route" by extending my commute when I can. Occasional recreational rides on vacation or on weekends, and rides with the kids when I can squeeze it in. I commute every day, and do as many single-purpose, single-occupant errand trips as I can on a bike as well.
#293
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I primarily ride around my neighbor. Small suburban town so there's not a lot of traffic on the side streets I ride on. If I do venture out to the busier roads, I've found that the shoulder is ample enough that I feel safe. Where it isn't, or I don't, I ride on the sidewalk. After seeing some truly horrifying vids of ppl being clipped from behind, I'm willing to bend the rules there.
#299
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This helped so much. I learnt to ride in just a few hours! Started with gliding at home, when I got comfortable, went to the park with my partner. Practiced gliding again in an open field and then for the first time, he pushed me so I could learn to peddle. The second time we tried, he mentioned I should peddle really fast, which I did. He let go and I couldn’t believe I could ride!! It took a couple tries to get comfortable with marking turns and starting but I rode for hours, without any help before leaving the park